Pick-off printed adhesive label and method of making the same



E. W. HUBER March 6, 1962 PICK-OFF PRINTED ADHESIVE LABEL AND METHOD OFMAKING THE SAME 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed July 3l, 1959 N QM. wm.

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ATTORNEY E. W. HUBER March 6, 1962 PICK-OFF` PRINTED ADHESIVE LABEL ANDMETHOD OF MAKING THE SAME 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed July 3l, 1959 3,24,l55Patented Mar. 6, 19h22 3,024,155 HQE-GFF PRWTED ADHESHVE LABEL M'ETHUD FMAKNG THE SAME lErwin W. Huber, Towson, Md., assigner to TopflightCorporation, a corporation of Pennsylvania Filed .Holy 3l, 1959, Ser.No. 830,831 2 Claims. (Cl. Htl- 247) rI`his invention relates to apick-oit printed adhesive label and method of making the same, saidinvention comprising an improvement over applicants prior Patent No.2,819,195, issued January 7, 1958.

The type of label to which the present invention applies hasprogressively come into wide use in industry and commerce since thedevelopment of suitable pressuresensitive cements and adhesives whichare employed to adhere a label peelably to a suitable backing sheetwhich protects the `adhesive layer on the reverse side of the label fromthat which bears printed or decorative information and designs. Thebacking sheet usually comprises treated paper or other similar materialwhich readily separates peelably from the adhesive layer on said reversesurface of the label. Difliculty has been encountered heretofore,however, in effecting initial separation of the backing sheet from thelabel, particularly where the label and backing sheet have beenidentical in size and are in laminated condition as they are cut from alonger strip or larger sheet of ysuch laminated arrangement.

Applicants prior Patent No. 2,8l9,l95 constitutes one reasonablysatisfactory solution -to the problem of effecting particularly initialas well as nal separation of the backing sheet from the label byproviding an additional width of the `backing sheet adjacent one edge ofthe label, the additional width of backing sheet constituting tab meansto which peelably adheres a covering strip of substantially the samethickness and material as the label.4

The covering strip is coated on the reverse surface by apressure-sensitive cement which actually constitutes a continuation ofthe layer of cement which peelably adheres the backing sheet to thelabel. By bending the covering tab strip and backing sheet relative tothe label, initial separation of the backing sheet from the label can beeffected moderately well but it has been found that the layer or stripof adhesive has to be broken in order to effect such initial separationand the extra operation necessary to do this frequently results inbending or distorting the label.

The preferred embodiment of label to which the present invention as wellas applicants prior patent pertains constitutes one made from relativelystiff metal foil. The intended use of a large percentage of such labelproducts made in accordance with this invention are utilized as nameplates, instruction-bearing labels, ornamental labels of various kinds,advertising labels, and the like. Particularly in regard to such labelswhich have a permanent nature such as a product label bearing thetrademark, rating data and instructions, such as are used as name plateson motors, various types o-f mechanisms, and the like, any bending ormutilation of the edges of such labels as sometimes occurs incident toremoving the backing sheet, especially in accordance with the inventioncovered by said prior patent, is sufliciently detrimental that the labeloften is rendered unfit for use in that such bent edge not only issufficiently unsightly `as to render the label unacceptable to thecustomer of the product but such uneven edge `also presents means bywhich ultimate accidental removal, tearing, or mutilation of the labelcan result.

The covering strip on the tab portion of the backing sheet in accordancewith applicants prior patent also resulted in some tearing of the labelsincident to removing the tab strip and backing sheet therefrom.Additionally, the preferred form of covering strip for the tab extensionon the laminated label comprises a narrow metal strip of materialsimilar to that from which the metal labels were formed, yet the metalcovering strip on the tab extension of the label is expendable as soonas the backing sheet is removed from the label, and the expense of suchmetallic covering strip is not inconsequential.

The principal purpose of the present invention is to provide a laminatedlabel of the pick-off type having printed indicia, ornamentation or thelike on one surface and peelably adheres to a backing sheet disposedagainst the opposite surface by means of a layer of pressure-sensitiveadhesive interposed between the backing sheet and label, said backingsheet being sufciently wide at least at one edge to extend beyond theadjacent edge of the label to constitute a tab strip which preferably isfree from adhesive or covering strip so as to effect ready initialseparation of 4the backing sheet from the label Without substantialdanger or possibility of bending or otherwise mutilating or tearing thelabel incident to either the initial or complete removal of the backingsheet from the label which has a layer of pressure-sensitive cementadhering to the reverse surface thereof from that which has printing orembossing thereon of a labeling nature.

Another object of the invention is -to provide a process by which saidimproved label may be formed automatically by relatively simple andfool-proof mechanism, thereby resulting in a saving in cost over labelsproduced by the means and process covered by applicants prior patent,for example.

Details of the foregoing objects and of the invention, as well as otherobjects thereof, are set forth in the following specification andillustrated in the accompanying drawings comprising a part thereof.

ln the drawings:

FIG. 1 is a side elevation of a schematically illustrated machine forlaminating, printing, and otherwise forming labels in accordance withthe present invention.

FlG. 2 is a vertical sectional elevation taken on the line 2-2 of FIG.l.

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of an exemplary label made in accordancewith the present invention and constituting part of the presentinvention.

FIG. 4 is a diagrammatic plan of a sheet of material embodying theprinciples of the present invention but illustrating a manner in which aplurality of strips of labels may be made simultaneously in accordancewith the present invention.

In accordance with the present invention and referring to the drawings,there is illustrated in FIG. 2 an exemplary label product comprising alaminated label 11i. Said laminated label it) comprising, in itspreferred embodiment, a printed pick-off label 12, a backing sheet 14,and an intermediate layer 16 of pressure-sensitive cement which has agreater aiinity adhesively for the label 12 than the backing sheet le.In its preferred embodiment, the label is made from relatively stilimetal foil, although other types of material, either metallic ornon-metallic may be employed when suitably treated or of suitable naturethat the pressure-sensitive cement 16 has a greater adhesive affinitytherefor than the backing sheet 14.

The backingsheet le may be made from any suitable type of material whicheither by nature o1' by suitable treating is rendered peelably separablefrom the pressuresensitive cement layer i6. Among the materials fromwhich the backing sheet 14 may be made are paper, synthetic resin ofsuitable form including hardened plastic lm-s which are flexible or thelike. When paper is used, the same preferably is impregnated withsuitable lacquer, resin, varnish or the like to render the same readilypeelable from conventional pressure-sensitive cement such as that fromwhich the layer 16 is formed.

In accordance with the invention, and as is readily seen from FIG. 3,the backing sheet 14 is wider in one direction than the label 12,whereby a tab strip 18 is formed at one edge of the label. Preferably,the tab strip 13 is free from adhesive on its upper surface as seen insaid figure, whereby said tab strip 18 readily may be grasped betweenthe thumb and forefinger for example, while holding the label 12, `andthen bending or fiexing the tab strip 18 away from the plane of thelabel 12 so as to effect readily not only initial separation of thebacking sheet 14 from the cement-bearing surface of the label but alsoto effect complete removal of the backing sheet 14 from the label.

It will be observed that the cement layer 16 extends substantially onlyto the edge of the label 12 adjacent the tab strip 18 and, due to theadhesive-resistant nature of at least the adjacent surface of thebacking sheet which peelably adheres to the adhesive layer 16, the tabstrip 1S readily is separable from the adhesive layer 16 and the label12 to which the adhesive layer firmly adheres. Hence, such separation ofthe backing sheet 14 from the label is effected without damage such astearing, or bending or any other type of mutilation, therebyconstituting a distinct improvement over the separating means affordedby the invention covered by applicants prior patent referred to above.

The laminated label quickly and inexpensively may be formed either inthe nature of a single strip or a plurality of parallel strips uponapparatus such as the machine illustrated in FIGS. l and 2 of thedrawings, Refeiring to these figures, it will be seen that the backingsheet 14 is provided in suitable widths and is wound upon a roll 2t).Said backing sheet is unwound from the roll 2t) and is carried past:suitable applicating rolls in adhesive applicator 22. The label strip12, which preferably is relatively stiff metallic foil that neverthelessis readily capable of being coiled, is supplied from a roll 24 thereof.

A tab cover strip 26 is fed from a roll 28 thereof and is so positionedthat the tab cover strip 26 and the label strip 12 are fed inedge-to-edge abutting relationship over the laminating roller 30. Itwill be seen that the strips 12 and 26, in edge abutting relationshipare next to the outer surface of the laminating rollers 30, whereby theadhiVe-coated backing sheet 14 is laminated firmly onto the outersurfaces of the label strip 12 and tab cover strip 26 by the pressureroller 32, -it being understood that the laminating roller 30 andpressure roller 32 are mounted in such relationship to each other as toproduce Suficient pressure to effect satisfactory lamination of thebacking sheet tothe label and tab cover strips.

The tab cover strip` 26, rather than being metal which is relativelyexpensive, particularly considering that the tab cover strip isexpendable, preferably is formed from suitable less expensive paper orthe like which is as inexpensive as possible and is treated suitably torender the same highly ladherent to the adhesive layer 16, whereby theadhesive layer 16 will adhere firmly to the tab cover strip 26,particularly during the laminating operation when passing between thepressure roller 32 and the laminating roller 30. As distinguished fromthe invention of applicants prior patent, after such lamination has beeneffected, the relatively inexpensive tab cover strip 26 with a layer ofadhesive 16 firmly adhering thereto is stripped from the tab edge of thelaminated label strip 10 so as readily to expose the tab strip or edge18 of the laminated label 10 as shown in FIG. 3.

The strip 26 preferably is sufficiently strong to permit rapid strippingwithout tearing. In order to effect such ready and inexpensive strippingof the tab cover strip 26 and the adhesive `layer 16 adhering theretofrom the laminated sheet or strip after passing between the laminatingroller 30 ,and pressure roller 32, the mechanism comprising part of thepresent invention utilizes suitable guiding means such as a guide roller34 and a winding roller 36 which is positively driven to coil theadhesive coated tab cover strip 26. The coil of adhesive coated tabcover strip 26, which now is in discardable condition, may be removedfrom time to time from the winding roller 36 in any suitable manner.

Following the stripping of the tab cover strip 26 and adhesive layer 16from the tab strip 1S of the laminated label, the laminated label thenis passed successively past the printing rolls 38 and 49, there beingany suitable number of such rolls, depending particularly upon thenumber of different colors which may be required upon the printedlabels. It also Will be understood that said printing rolls are merelyexemplary and representative in nature. After the laminated strip oflabel material comprising the backing sheet 14, label strip 12 andadhesive layer 16 has been compressed into laminated condition andprinted in the manner `described hereinabove, the same is passed betweensuitable holding rollers 42 and 44, or the like, which either may feedthe laminated strip perforating or cutting roll 46, from which cutsegments may be deposited in a suitable receiving box 48, for example.

In the event the product is desired in coiled strip form, a roll 50 isprovided upon which the laminated product may be wound. In the event aplurality of side-by-side adjacent strips of labels are formedsimultaneously on the apparatus described above, said individual stripsmay be slit apart so as to separate the same from each other by suitableslitting knives substituted for the perforated or cutting foil 46, forexample, or the product coiled upon roll 50 subsequently may be removedfor an additional slitting operation upon a separate machine, asdesired. An exemplary illustration of the manner in which a plurality oflaminated strips of labels 10 may be formed Iupon the mechanism shown inFIGS. 1 and 2 is illustrated in FIG. 4, wherein four label strips 12 areshown in adjacent relationship, certain of these being in edge-to-edgerelationship. The tab cover strips 26 have been removed from the tabstrips 18 by stripping from backing sheet 14.

For purposes of compactness, it will be seen that the tab strips 18 ofthe respective rows of labels 12 are adjacent each other and may be slitalong lines 52 to separate the individual strips of labels. Similarly,the two intermediate adjacent strips of labels 12 shown in said liguremay be slit along lines 54 to separate the same. It will be understoodthat such slitting may be done either upon the machine illustrated inFIGS. 1 and 2, as described above, or by a subsequent operation.Further, the labels may be separated from each other along exemplarytransverse cutting or slitting lines 56 if it is desired to formindividual labels. However, the individual labels may be cutindividually from a coil or other strip-like form of the laminatedlabels, as desired and needed.

From the foregoing, it will be seen that the present nvention comprisesan improved label over that formed in applicants prior Patent No.2,819,195, and includes a projecting tab strip extending only from thebacking sheet 14 at one edge of a laminated label 10 and this form oflabel is formed less expensively than the label formed in said priorpatent by the process illustrated on the attached drawings and describedhereinabove. Not only is the label formed less expensively but theprovision of the particular type of tab strip 1S projecting in freelyexposed condition from one edge of the laminated label provides meansfor removing the backing sheet not only initially but entirely from thelabel without danger of damage or mutilation thereto.

While the invention has been described and illustrated in its severalpreferred embodiments, and has included certain details, it should beunderstood that the invention is not to be limited to the precisedetails herein illustrated and described, since the same way may becarried out by other means and ways falling Within the scope of theinvention as claimed.

I claim:

1. A process of forming pick-off adhesive labels comprisng the steps ofcoating one surface of a strip of flexible backing material withpressure-sensitive adhesive, adhering by pressure a label strip and atab cover strip to said adhesive layer in side-by-side juxtaposition,the adhesive having greater adhesive afnity for the label strip and tabcover strip than the backing strip, and stripping the tab cover stripand the portion of the adhesive layer adheringly attached thereto fromthe backing strip to provide projecting tab means at one margin of thelabel strip and free from adhesive, whereby said projecting tab meansmay be used to effect peeling of the backing strip from said labelstrip.

2. A process of forming pick-off adhesive labels comprising the steps ofcoating one surface of a strip of flexible backing material withpressure-sensitive adhesive, ad-

hering a label strip and a tab cover strip to said adhesive layer inclose side-by-side abutting relationship, the adhesive having greateradhesive affinity for the label and tab cover strip than the backingstrip, and continuously stripping and coiling the tab cover strip withthe adhesive adhered thereto from the backing strip substantially evenlywith the adjacent edge lof said label strip to provide projecting tabmeans immediately adjacent one margin of the label strip, whereby saidprojecting tab means will strip readily from said label strip andthereby may be used to effect peeling of the backing strip from saidlabel strip.

References Cited in the le of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 530,678Bowers Dec. 11, 1894 1,900,900 Evans Mar. 14, 1933 2,819,195 Huber Jan,7, 1958

1. A PROCESS OF FORMING PICK-OFF ADHESIVE LABELS COMBACKING MATERIALWITH PRESSURE-SENSITIVE ADHESIVE, ADHERING BY PRESSURE A LABEL STRIP ANDA TAB COVER STRIP TO SAID ADHESIVE LAYER IN SIDE-BY-SIDE JUXTAPOSITIOIN,THE ASHESIVE HAVING GREATER ADHESIVE AFFINITY FOR THE LABEL STRIP ANDTAB COVER STRIP THAN THE BACKING STRIP, AND STRIPPING THE TAB COVERSTRIP AND THE PORTION OF THE ADHESIVE LAYER ADHERINGLY ATTACHED THERETOFROM THE BACKING STRIP TO PROVIDE PROJECTING TAB MEANS AT ONE MARGIN OFTHE LABEL STRIP AND FREE FRON ASHESIVE, WHEREBY SAID PROJECTING TABMEANS MAY BE USED TO EFFECT PEELING OF THE BACKING STRIP FROM SAID LABELSTRIP.